Diarrhea, Age 12 and Older-Check Your Symptoms

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Diarrhea,Age 12 and Older - Check Your Symptoms

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Step One

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Step Three

Note:

If you know or think you are pregnant, go to the topic Pregnancy-Related Problems.
If you have abdominal pain or severe discomfort that is not relieved by passing stools or gas: Go to the topic Abdominal Pain, Age 12 and Older.


	Yes

Are your stools black or bloody?


	Yes

Do you have diarrhea and a fever?


	Yes

Have you had severe diarrhea?


	Yes

Do you have symptoms of mild to moderate dehydration?


	Yes

Have you had mild or moderate diarrhea?


	Yes

Do you think your diarrhea may be caused by a medicine?


	Yes

Have you had 1 or more normal-size to large stools that are mostly black or bloody?


	Yes

Have you had 1 or more normal-size to large stools that are partly black or bloody?


	Yes

Have you had 1 or more small stools that are mostly black or bloody?


	Yes

Have you had streaks of blood in your stools?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have a fever of or higher?


	Yes

Do you think you have a high fever but you are unable to measure your temperature?


	Yes

Do you have a fever of or higher?


	Yes

Do you think that you have a moderate fever but you are unable to measure your temperature?


	Yes

Do you have a moderate fever with signs of a serious illness?


	Yes

Have you had a recurrent or ongoing fever without an obvious cause after traveling outside your own country in the past 6 weeks?


	Yes

Do you have diabetes?


	Yes

Do you have a disease or take medicine that causes problems with your immune system?


	Yes

Have you had a fever of or higher for longer than 24 hours?


	Yes

Do you think that you have had a mild fever for longer than 24 hours but you have been unable to measure your temperature?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have symptoms of moderate dehydration?


	Yes

Have you had severe diarrhea for 24 hours or longer?


	Yes

Do you have vomiting that makes it hard to drink enough to replace the lost fluids?


	Yes

Do you have diabetes?


	Yes

Do you have a disease or take medicine that causes problems with your immune system?


	Yes

Do you have symptoms of mild dehydration for longer than 48 to 72 hours?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have symptoms of moderate dehydration, and you are unable to drink enough to replace the lost fluids?


	Yes

Do you have symptoms of mild dehydration for longer than 12 hours, and you are unable to drink enough to replace the lost fluids?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have moderate diarrhea that has not improved after 48 hours of home treatment?


	Yes

Have you had mild diarrhea for 1 to 2 weeks?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Did your diarrhea start after an increase in a dose of medicine or after taking a new medicine?Note: Call the doctor who prescribed the medicine to determine if you should stop taking the medicine or take a different one. An appointment may not be necessary.If you are taking a nonprescription medicine, stop taking the medicine. Call your doctor if you feel you need to continue taking the medicine.


	Yes

Did your diarrhea start after starting treatment with an antibiotic?


	Yes

Did your diarrhea start within 2 weeks of stopping treatment with an antibiotic?


	Yes

Do you think your diarrhea may be caused by a medicine you take regularly, such as lithium or digoxin?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Other Symptoms to Watch For

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: April 26, 2010

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.